Most beautiful speakers in the world ?

[Mart68]

The two beryllium tweeters alone cost over 1000 euros, plus the rather expensive woofer, cabinet and amplifier electronics. Add a subwoofer and you spend less on a high-quality system than on components. The same applies to Genelec, Neumann, KS and Co.

They retail here at £1200 each which suggests the BOM cannot be more than £120 per speaker. The tweeters might retail at a grand but that's not what they cost Focal.

 

[Audionaut]

Your money.

My money

 

[Audionaut]

They retail here at £1200 each which suggests the BOM cannot be more than £120 per speaker. The tweeters might retail at a grand but that's not what they cost Focal.

Of course not, because Focal manufactures the tweeters itself.
But you won't find a beryllium tweeter for sale individually for less than 400 euros or dollars.
Whether from Focal, Scan-Speak, SB Acoustics or whoever.
The overall Solo 6 system is a good price, you can accept it or leave it.

 

[Mart68]

Of course not, because Focal manufactures the tweeters itself.
But you won't find a beryllium tweeter for sale individually for less than 400 euros or dollars.
Whether from Focal, Scan-Speak, SB Acoustics or whoever.
The overall Solo 6 system is a good price, you can accept it or leave it.

I don't think the price is at all unreasonable for what's on offer, just pointing out that you can't take the retail price of the tweeter as being an indicator that the speaker is amazing value for money.

 

[Audionaut]

just pointing out that you can't take the retail price of the tweeter as being an indicator that the speaker is amazing value for money.

It is one of many indicators. In my opinion, the Focal Solo 6 ST6 are very good speakers that work very well in rooms of around 20 square meters. In larger rooms, you use a powerful subwoofer - and that's it.
I have no problem if you and others find the Focal overpriced or not good, but it doesn't change my opinion, which I can of course justify professionally if desired, but that might overload this thread and not everyone is interested.

 

[Lekha]

Speaking about tweeters, Sony

Doesn't cost much. Dismantle and use in your speakers, or just fix them in whole. Japanese technology, after all!

 

[Mart68]

I have no problem if you and others find the Focal overpriced or not good,

No, I generally like Focal speakers, and I own some.

 

[Lekha]

Waterdrop, CNC milled
Made by an engineer, by the way. There's another one made with papier mâché by another person.

 

[Muddywaters]

Of course not, because Focal manufactures the tweeters itself.
But you won't find a beryllium tweeter for sale individually for less than 400 euros…

Off Topic: I realize the finished tweeter is ‘safe’ but I’m curious about the manufacturing processes at Focal involving the beryllium since it presents such an acute toxic hazard. Some of the best phono cartridge cantilevers used it back in the day to reduce effective tip mass. I would guess a large % of the cost is tied up in safety/handling aspects. Vapor deposition I suppose?

 

[Lekha]

Off Topic: I realize the finished tweeter is ‘safe’ but I’m curious about the manufacturing processes at Focal involving the beryllium since it presents such an acute toxic hazard. Some of the best phono cartridge cantilevers used it back in the day to reduce effective tip mass. I would guess a large % of the cost is tied up in safety/handling aspects. Vapor deposition I suppose?

As long as the tweeter dome remains intact and is not subjected to abrasion, cutting, or crushing, it will not generate hazardous beryllium dust. If the beryllium dome is broken, small particles of beryllium might be released and become airborne, posing an inhalation risk. The danger arises primarily from inhaling beryllium dust or fumes. In other words, beryllium is terribly dangerous, whatever the manufacturer says or promises. Just like it was with asbestos sometime ago.

 

[Muddywaters]

As long as the tweeter dome remains intact and is not subjected to abrasion, cutting, or crushing, it will not generate hazardous beryllium dust. If the beryllium dome is broken, small particles of beryllium might be released and become airborne, posing an inhalation risk. The danger arises primarily from inhaling beryllium dust or fumes. In other words, beryllium is terribly dangerous, whatever the manufacturer says or promises. Just like it was with asbestos sometime ago.

As my post indicates I’m not concerned about the tweeter in finished form. Perhaps re-read it. I was curious about Focal’s manufacturing processes re beryllium. Which your reply provides nothing of substance..

 

[Vladimir Filevski]

idk, those seem pretty ugly to me, no?

Visible screws are a no go in this category of “most beautiful”.

"Ugly moment" for me is the very strange depression around the tweeter dome - It doesn't look like a waveguide, but more like a diffraction contraption. More strangely, it doesn't hurt measured flat frequency response.
Screws are OK for me, as long as they are black (or chrome on chrome trim).

 

[Audionaut]

"Ugly moment" for me is the very strange depression around the tweeter dome - It doesn't look like a waveguide, but more like a diffraction contraption.

With a renowned company like Focal, I assume that, especially with a studio monitor, there are acoustic and not optical reasons for this implied waveguide.
But maybe I'm wrong.

 

[JRowland]

Do you think it was Made in the Philippines ?

I was sure surprised to see that sticker. I usually removed stickers as a kid (still do and even occasionally de-badge a vehicle) and never would have added one, especially without any artistic merit and to the unseen bottom.

 

[Pearljam5000]

 

[Lekha]

View attachment 448056

Not much of a difference in appearance between the LG CJ44 speaker from a decade or so ago. It features the same bass-reflex ports, more or less, and the tweeter waveguide.
The LG speaker is not exactly pretty, though.

 

[Muddywaters]

View attachment 448056

PJ you get a knock on the noggin? That’s no Gennie! Looks good though.

 

[somebodyelse]

Not much of a difference in appearance between the LG CJ44 speaker from a decade or so ago. It features the same bass-reflex ports, more or less, and the tweeter waveguide.

Maybe they saw the Neumann's predecessor, the Klein+Hummel O410?

 

[Lekha]

Maybe they saw the Neumann's predecessor, the Klein+Hummel O410?

These were made somewhere in the 1990s, by GoldStar, which became LG later. GoldStar was established in 1958.

 

[Pearljam5000]

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